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Malawi police rescue kidnapped British woman after exchange of gunfire

By Thomson Reuters Sep 18, 2026 | 6:27 AM

BLANTYRE, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Malawi police said they had rescued a British woman who was ​kidnapped last week, in ‌an intelligence-led operation in which the kidnappers were shot and later died.

• Police said 47-year-old British national Nusrat Osman ‌was ​abducted by four ⁠unidentified men in ⁠the city of Blantyre’s Mount Pleasant suburb on September 11.

• She was rescued on Thursday and ​reunited with her family, the Malawi Police Service said ⁠in a statement ⁠dated September 17.

• The ​motive of the kidnapping is not ​clear.

• The operation to rescue Osman ‌involved an exchange of fire between police and the kidnappers, who were armed with an ⁠AK-47 rifle and a pistol.

• The kidnappers were shot during the operation and ⁠later ‌died in hospital from ⁠their injuries.

• The senior ​police ‌officer who was wounded ​is in ⁠hospital in a stable condition.

• Investigations into the kidnapping are continuing.

(Reporting by Frank Phiri;Writing by Anathi Madubela;Editing by Alexander Winning and ​Toby Chopra)